Obtaining sensing results and/or data in response to object detection

US8153950B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated · US

Inventors

• Peter Kiesel · Palo Alto, US
• Markus Beck · Scotts Valley, US
• Joerg Martini · San Francisco, US
• Michael Bassler · Erlangen, DE
• Noble M. Johnson · Menlo Park, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 18, 2008
• Grant date: Apr 10, 2012
• Expiry date: Jun 13, 2030

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N2021/1734
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An encoder/sensor can obtain sensing results from objects in an encoding/sensing region; a trigger detector can respond to objects in a trigger detection region, providing respective trigger signals; and a relative motion component can cause relative motion of objects into the trigger detection region, from it into the encoding/sensing region, and within the encoding/sensing region. In response to an object's trigger signal, control circuitry can cause the encoder/sensor and/or the relative motion component to operate so that the encoder/sensor obtains sensing results indicating a time-varying waveform and processing circuitry can obtain data from the sensing results indicating a time-varying waveform. The time-varying waveform can include information resulting from the relative motion within the encoding/sensing region. The encoder/sensor and trigger detector can be implemented, for example, with discrete components or as sets of cells in a photosensing array on an integrated circuit.